Troubled and talented singer Scott Weiland turns 48 today. Best known for his work with 90s rockers Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland’s last recordings came in 2015 with the band Art of Anarchy. Through multi-platinum albums, Grammy awards, various brushes with the law and stints in rehab, Weiland is still putting out good music.
Born in California, Weiland spent some time growing up Bainbridge, Ohio before finishing high school back in California. In 1986 he formed a band called Mighty Joe Young which started finding success in the San Diego area. In 1990 the band recorded a demo and was gaining attention in Los Angeles and other Southern California cities. They entered the studio to record their first proper album and were forced to change their name for legal reasons. The newly christened Stone Temple Pilots released their debut album, “Core”, in 1992.
“Core” was a monster of a record selling over 8 million copies in the United States alone. STP’s second album, “Purple”, debuted at #1 in 1994. STP would release two more albums in the 1990s with each going platinum. The new millennium was the beginning of the end for Weiland and STP. They released one more album together and went their separate ways in 2002.
In 2003 Weiland caught on with supergroup Velvet Revolver. The band included former Guns n Roses members Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum and Slash along with Dave Kushner. Their first album, “Contraband”, debuted at #1 in 2004 and sold over 3 million copies. Weiland picked up his second Grammy before leaving Velvet Revolver to re-join STP in 2008.
STP and Weiland toured for a few years and released an album in 2010 but eventually split again. He has released his own solo material since then and has recorded a few songs with Art of Anarchy. His vocals have held up remarkably well for someone that has been at it for 30 years. He is currently touring with his own group, Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts and will be stopping at the Cleveland Agora on November 17: http://www.scottweiland.com/#tour
Here is Weiland and Art of Anarchy with “Small Batch Whiskey”:
Velvet Revolver – “Slither”:
Stone Temple Pilots – “Dead & Bloated”:
